'Not fair on them': Family detail as Andrew Johns makes unexpected career call
The Knights are reportedly preparing to part ways with O'Brien at season's end, with the club sitting 13th on the ladder heading into Round 20. Fans have long been calling for Johns to get involved in a bigger capacity at the club, and many believe he should be the head coach.
But speaking on the 'Immortal Behaviour' podcast this week, the Newcastle legend said it won't be happening. Johns has three young children - one with wife Kate - and they're currently based in Sydney. The Channel 9 personality said it wouldn't be fair on his family to move back to Newcastle when they're so entrenched in their lives in Sydney.
"I'll never coach, because I haven't got the personality," Johns said when asked by Allana Ferguson if he'd ever consider coaching the Knights. "I live in Sydney and I love where I'm living. The drive up there, I couldn't be doing it and I'm not moving back to Newcastle.
"I haven't got the personality and I haven't got the patience. It would be like watching Charlie Sheen come undone. It would be entertaining for everyone, but I've got a young family too and it's not fair on them."
NRL legend identifies main priority for Newcastle rebuild
Johns said whoever is coaching the Knights next season needs to make the junior pathways a priority. "The big question isn't about who coaches next - it's about what the next person does with the junior structure," he said.
"Newcastle can not attract marquee players, plural. We have always built from within, looked at our local juniors coming through and put so much work into them. Build from within and then find the position we are deficient in and then go buy a Ben Kennedy - that was the structure of the club since day dot.
"I don't know what the DNA of the Knights is anymore. How are we gonna play? What sort of team are we? What sort of club are we? Recruit players which suit our DNA.
"Whoever comes in (as coach), or if Adam (O'Brien) is there next year, they have got to sit there and say 'what is our DNA?' Say to the junior coaches - I don't give a rats if you win a comp in 17s or 19s or 21s, we are gonna judge you on producing first graders. If you can produce first graders who are coming through the system, your job is safe. I don't want you playing our Under 17s like robots … find our DNA and coach these kids."
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Johns revealed he's been inundated with calls from former teammates complaining about the state of the club. It comes amid news that Cooper Votano - one of their highest-rated teenagers - has signed with the Melbourne Storm for next season.
"I care so much … I'm getting emotional, because it means so much to me," he said. "My phone from blokes I used to play with is just ringing and they're all the same, all frustrated. We want the club to be successful, but we want the junior pathways to be sorted out - we need 75 per cent of our team to be local players."
Despite rumours that Kalyn Ponga isn't happy and wants out of the club, the future is still looking bright. Dylan Brown will arrive in 2026 to play in the halves - a position of weakness for the last few years. And young guns Fletcher Sharpe, Fletcher Hunt and Kyle McCarthy have shown they belong at NRL level.
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